State to develop way to calculate cost-per-degree

By Joey FlechasStaff writer

Published: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

As Florida's state university system seeks performance-based funding from the Legislature, higher education leaders are forming a workgroup to explore the cost-per-degree for students, universities and the state.

Chancellor Frank Brogan sent a memo Tuesday to administrators at Florida's universities announcing the formation of a workgroup to develop a way to calculate the annual undergraduate cost-per-degree at each university based on state funding, tuition and financial aid.

Brogan wrote in the memo that the cost-per-degree will be a critical piece of data that will help the state university system develop a performance-based funding model.

Last month in Tallahassee, university presidents announced they are seeking $118 million in performance-based funding, pledging to hold the line on tuition as long as lawmakers provide the funding.

The workgroup, which will be comprised of staff members from the Board of Governors and from universities, will be led by Tim Jones, the board's chief financial officer, and Jan Ignash, the board's chief academic officer.

"Since there is no single, nationally accepted model, the group will examine cost-per-degree models from other systems or institutions around the country," Brogan wrote in the memo.

He asked the board to determine how much an undergraduate degree costs a student, how much an undergraduate degree costs the state and how much an undergraduate degree costs an institution.

Brogan is expected to announce the workgroup Thursday morning at the meeting of the Board of Governors.

The board held committee meetings Wednesday at the University of Florida, where they heard presentations on the legislative budget request for facilities and maintenance across the university system as well as for online education. They also heard a report detailing the findings of an investigation into Florida A&M University's anti-hazing program.

<p>As Florida's state university system seeks performance-based funding from the Legislature, higher education leaders are forming a workgroup to explore the cost-per-degree for students, universities and the state.</p><p>Chancellor Frank Brogan sent a memo Tuesday to administrators at Florida's universities announcing the formation of a workgroup to develop a way to calculate the annual undergraduate cost-per-degree at each university based on state funding, tuition and financial aid.</p><p>Brogan wrote in the memo that the cost-per-degree will be a critical piece of data that will help the state university system develop a performance-based funding model.</p><p>Last month in Tallahassee, university presidents announced they are seeking $118 million in performance-based funding, pledging to hold the line on tuition as long as lawmakers provide the funding.</p><p>The workgroup, which will be comprised of staff members from the Board of Governors and from universities, will be led by Tim Jones, the board's chief financial officer, and Jan Ignash, the board's chief academic officer.</p><p>"Since there is no single, nationally accepted model, the group will examine cost-per-degree models from other systems or institutions around the country," Brogan wrote in the memo.</p><p>He asked the board to determine how much an undergraduate degree costs a student, how much an undergraduate degree costs the state and how much an undergraduate degree costs an institution.</p><p>Brogan is expected to announce the workgroup Thursday morning at the meeting of the Board of Governors.</p><p>The board held committee meetings Wednesday at the University of Florida, where they heard presentations on the legislative budget request for facilities and maintenance across the university system as well as for online education. They also heard a report detailing the findings of an investigation into Florida A&M University's anti-hazing program.</p><p><I>Contact Joey Flechas at 338-3166 or joey.flechas@gvillesun.com.</i></p>